Rat trap



May 16, 1933 H. .LBRINKER ET Al. 1,908,816

RAT TRAP Filed Feb. 5. 1931 Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED STATES .iSAreNT oFFicE HENRY J. BRINKER, or WHITAKER, `AND CHARLES MCINTYRE, or Vs'HARoi\T,1

- PENNSYLVANIA RAT TRAP Application filed February 5, 1931. Serial No. 513,491.

The invention relates to rat traps and important objects thereof are to provide a rat trap, of the character described, which will function to automatically reset itself by the operation of parts thereof actuated by the movement of rats confined therein, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and enicient in its use, positive in'its action and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. n

Vith the foregoing and otherobjects in view which will appear as the vdescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention hereinafter disclosed can be made .within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. 4

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is top plan view of a rat trap,

constructed in accordance with the invention,

with the cover in the open position.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2 2,

Figure 1. l Y f Figure 3 is a top plan view of the lower section of the device. f

Figures 4 and 5 are, respectively, side and rear endviews of an improved'ratftrap Referring in detail to the drawing 1 and 2, respectively denote upper andllower casings, which are preferably constructed fromvsheet metal, and rectangular in contour. The upper casing 1 is mounted and supported on top of, and extends partially into the open upper end of thelower casing 2, and `may beremoved from the latter when required.

The lower casing 2 comprises thelpair` of side walls 3 and 4, a rear end wall5, a bottom 6 and a front end wall 7. The front end portion 8, of the bottom 6, is disposed above the plane ofthe latterto1 providean angularly extending entrance opening 9 therebetween, adjacent to the forward end of the llower `casing 2. f

An entrance door 10, is pivotally mounted,

59 centrally of its length, in the lower casing 2,

by means of a transversely extending shaft 12,A whichis carried by the side walls 3 and 4, and disposed directly rearward of the rear end of the bottom portion 8 constituting the front wall of the entrance Vopening 9.

The entrance door 10 carries aV weight 10 at the rear end thereof for overbalancing and ,tilting the door 10l for normally maintaining the latter in the closed position. When the entrance door 10 is in the closed 60 position, the rear end thereof restsfin an angle bar 11, which extends transversely on the bottom 6directly rearward ofthe rear end oftheentrance opening 9. Such engagement yofthe entrance door 10 in the angle 65 barll prevents `the rats Vfrom possibly actu.- ating` the entrance door 10 to effect' their escape through the entrance opening 9. i f Y A longitudinally extendingtrip bar 13 is mounted in the lower casing 2, and is pivotally connected, 'as at 14, adjacent to its rear end, tothe sidewall 8. The trip bar 13 is provided with anotched front end 15, which is adapted forengaging the rear end'of the entrance door -10 to maintain the latter in 75 the open position, as shown in Figure 2.

`A trip plate 16 is mounted in they lower casing 2 adjacent to the rear end wall 5. The trip plate 16 is pivotally connected in position by a shaft 17, whichY extends transversely through the lower casing 2 and is supported by the side walls 3 and 4 adjacent to the bottom 5. A link 18 provides a pivotal connection between thefront'f end of the trip plate 16 and the rear end of the trip bar 13.

A weight19-iscarried at the rear end'of the tripplate 16 for overbalancing 'the lat# ter toward its rear end. The rear end of the tripV plate` 16 is provided with a depending flange 20 to limit and determine the down- 90 ward movement of the rear overbalanced end of the trip plate 16- prior to the resetting operation in a manner to be described.

l4 A bait holder 21 is secured in the lower casing 2 adjacent to the rear end of the latter 95 and directly above the rear end of the trip plate 16.

The upper casing 1 virtually constitutes .a closure member for lowercasing 2, and comprises appair of side walls 22 and 23, a bot.- 100 tom 24, a pair of ends walls 25 and 26 and a top cover 27. The latter is secured to the top of the side wall 22 by hinges 28, and is adapted to be secured in closed position to the top of the side wall 23 b v means of latching elements 29. p

The front end of the bottom- 24, of the upper casing 2, is provided with a large opening 3Q, `which permits the rats to enter the upper casing 1 from the'lowerl casing 2' and which further provides clearance for the front end of the entrance door 10 when the latter is tilted in the closed position, as cl`ear` ly shown in daslilines inA Figureg2.v

A trap door 31 is mounted in the upper casing; 1 directly rearward of the bottom opening 30, and has its upper .end pivotalfly connected to the side walls. 22 and. 23, by a shaft 32. The trap door 31 is gravity? oper ated and normally extends atl an ang-le` with the free endl thereofdisposed rearwardly. A lip` 31. is stamped upward from the bottom 2L directlyl rearwardof the f-nee endof the trap door Thelip 31 isprovid'ed to eliminate the possibility ofthe ratsactuating the trap door 31 to returny through the latter after having'once enteredtheuppercasing 1.

A gatew33, fixed to. a shaft 34, ismounted in; thel upper casingl 1: 'adjacent to the rear end of the latter. The shaft 34 extends transf versely, andi has its ends journaled,l iny respective sidewalls 22 ande 23 at the top:z of the latter. Y y

A lever 35, mountedJ and longitudinally shi'ftable onthe shaft 341 is provided for shift-V ing-the gate 33 to the horizontall position aga-insttheunder side ofthe coverl 27., as show-n in Figures-1 and 2;'and forv shifting the saidl gate 33 to the vert-icalposition', as showirin dashlinesin Figure 2; A lock nut 36 islnounted on thefendofthe-shaft 34', and

is-adjustableagainst the lever 3`51for securing Y the gate 33in the horizontal orf-vertical: posi.- tion, 1

The-'side wall 4, ofl the lower-casingf27 and thecover-of theupper casing 1, are prefenL abl'y provided with=wire meshipanels, respectively indicated at 37 and y38, to 4allow the finf speeti'on ofthe interior offrespeetive casings 1 and 2. l

Therear end wall26`, oftheupperoasing 1 is= provided` withperforationsi 39 to -permit draining of water from said-casing 1,' 'when the latter is employed-for drowning captured rats. Y

The side walls 22-and23 of then'ppencasing 1, arepreferably for-med with perforations 40 which are-positioned forwardof'the ldrop door 34 to allow the entrancelofflight through .im thev opening V30, for entioingthe-ratsf'rom the lowercasingtothe .upper casing 1;. v

A vertically disposed iange 41 isufixedto the underside of: the .upperf casin'gxbottom24. rBhe iiange 41" is positioned adjacent to-.the rear end of the entrance door 10, and is spaced the` front notched end 15 of the trip bar 13,

and placing bait in the holder 21. The rat can now enter through the entrance opening t), and. trairels rearwardly in the lower casing 2 until it steps upon the front end of the trip plate- 116, depressing said front end and thereby causing the trip b ar 13 to release the entrance'door 10;. The latterwill fall: to the closedpositiomas shown in dash. lines irl-Figure 2. The rat being trapped in the lower easing-2 will. leap upon ,thevnow closedv entrance door 110,.tow 11d.therbottomY op ening .30, thereby actnatingthe said entrance .door'lG'rto neengagethey front notched cndi 15 of the trip bar 13. The entrance door 10 isnow again ready for the reception of theneXt rat. The captured rat .leaps through the: bottom apermm3()A into theupper casing 1 and through the trap door 31', The latter will fall by gnavity tozthe closed position4 trapping the rat in theupper. casingl.

'lio destroy the captured rats,.the-latteriane forced toz'the nearend of the-upper casing 1 by shift-ing and, securingA the gate 33 in the vertical position-,. as shown; ini dash lines, in Figure' 2,; The rats are now confined' inl the reim endof theuppel: casing L and the latter 1s removed fromtheftopof the lower casing 2 andhas'its rearxend immersed in wateriuntil the captured rats4 areA drowned, after which they are remoVedsby-.opening the `cover 27.

Thepnesent. invention provides an efficient device of its kind, which will function auto,- matically toresetitself, .until the ltrap is filled to its capacity.

What. we-claimfis:`

1.l In: ac rattpap, a casing. provided! with an .entrance opening, an entrancey .door for said opening pivotally mounted: in:` said: casing, .a trip 4plate pivotally. mounted in:said'casing,.a vtrip bar havinga pivotal connection in said casing andrwithisaid trip:plate,.said trip hatl having5ai notched .end engaging saidl entrance door fonholding, the lat-ter'in the iopen: position, the depression. of: saiditrip plate actuatingi saidztrip rbar tomelease' said entrance door to ,allow the .latter tov shift `to the closed position'. v

2.-, Infa rattrap, ai casing.l provided'w-ith: an entrance opening,ranf entrance door for said opening pivotally. mounted in saidcasing, said entrance'- door` being; gravity operated, for shifting to the closed position, a trip. plate pivotally mounted insaidxcasing, atripfbar havingf a@ pivotal; connection:- in `said casing and with said trip plate, said trip bar having a notched end engaging said entrance door for holding the latter in the open position, the depression of said trip plate actuting said trip bar for releasing said entrance oor.

3. In a rat trap, a casing provided with an entrance opening, an entrance door for said opening pivotally mounted in said casing, said entrance door being gravity operated for shifting to the closed position, a trip plate pivotally mounted in said casing, a trip bar having a pivotal connection in said casing and with said trip plate, said trip bar having a notched end engaging said entrance door for holding the latter in the open position, the depression of said trip plate actuating said trip bar for releasing said entrance door, said entrance door being automatically7 engaged and held in the open position by the notched end of said trip bar when said entrance door is shifted to the open position.

4. In a rat trap, a casing provided with an entrance opening, an entrance door for said opening pivotally mounted in said casing, a trip plate pivotally mounted in said casing, a trip bar having a pivotal connection in said casing and with said trip plate, said trip bar having a notched end engaging said entrance door for holding the latter in the open position, the depression of said trip plate actuating said trip bar to release said entrance door to allow the latter to shift to the closed position, said door being automatically engaged and held in the open posltion by the notched end of said trip bar when said entrance door is shifted to the opening position.

5. In combination, a rat trap comprising a lower casing provided with an entrance opening, an upper casing removably mounted on the top of said lower casing, an entrance door for said entrance opening pivotally mounted in the forward end of said lower casing, said entrance door extending horizontally when in the open position, an opening in the upper casing disposed directly over the front end of said entrance door, a trip plate pivotally mounted in the rear end of said lower casing, a trip bar pivotally connected with said lower casing and with said trip plate, said trip bar having a notched forward end for engaging the rear end of said entrance door, for holding the latter in the open position, a weight carried by the rear end of said entrance door for automatically shifting the latter to the closed position when released from said trip bar, the depression of said trip plate actuating said trip bar for releasing said entrance door the rear end of said entrance door being automatically engaged and held by the notched end of said trip bar when said entrance door is shifted to the open position, and a trap door pivotally mounted in said upper casing and disposed adjacent to the opening in the latter and operable for returning to the closed position by gravity.

6. In combination, a rat trap comprising a lower casing provided with an entrance opening, an upper casing removably mounted on the top of said lower casing, an entrance door for said entrance opening pivotally mounted in the forward end of said lower casing, said entrance doorfextending horizontally when in the open position, an opening in the upper casing disposed directly over the front end of said entrance door, a trip plate pivotally mounted in the rear end of said lower casing, a trip bar pivotally connected with said lower casing and with said trip plate, said trip bar having a notched forward end for engaging the rear end of said entrance door for holding the latter in the open position, a weight carried by the rear end of said entrance door for automatically shifting the latter to the closed position when released from said trip bar, the depression of said trip plate actuating said trip bar for releasing said entrance door, the rear end of said entrance door being automatically engaged and held by the notched end of said trip bar when said entrance door is shifted to the open position, a trap door pivotally mounted in said upper casing and disposed adjacent to the opening in the latter and operable for returning to the closed position by gravity, and a gate pivotally mounted in said upper casing'and shiftable for disposing same in a horizontal or vertical direction in the latter.l

In testimony whereof we aiiix our signatures.

HENRY J. BRINKER. CHARLES MCINTYRE. 

